Trial of Borscha Anti-semites Finally Opens in Satu-mare

November 19, 1930

Bucharest (Nov. 18)

The much postponed trial of the anti-Semitic peasants charged with having started the fire in Borscha, where many Jewish homes were destroyed last July, opened today in Satu-Mare with the government taking emergency measures to preserve order. In addition to the anti-Semitic peasants on trial 15 Jews are also implicated.

Throughout the town, police patrols are on guard and are not permitting gatherings of more than five persons. The attorneys for the peasants are the well known anti-Semitic leaders, Zelea Codreanu, M. Catuneanu and M. Ionescu. The attorneys for the Jews are Joseph Borshida and Samuel Fischer. Although more than 500 persons sought permission to enter the court-room, only 100 have been admitted.

The attorneys for the peasants moved that Constantin Danila, himself a number of times arrested for anti-Semitic agitation, be permitted to participate in the hearing against the Jewish defendants, but the court denied the request. Throughout the day the 15 Jewish defendants were questioned, all denied the accusations against them.

In the afternoon the leaders of the anti-Semitic defendants, the priests, Fathers Berindei and Dumitrescua, took the stand, and made a point blank denial of the charges against them, imputing to the Jews the responsibility for the agitation.